Cooler system for rotary kiln and method

ABSTRACT

A method is disclosed for intensifying the cooling of hot granular material exiting from a series of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary drum by introducing a cooling liquid into the cooler tubes in a manner such that the liquid contacts the hot granular material as it passes therethrough and the heat of evaporation of the liquid intensifies the cooling of the material. A planetary cooler system for cooling material exiting from such cooler tubes is also disclosed in which means is provided for introducing cooling liquid preferably in the form of a spray so as to contact the material exiting from the cooler tube and intensify the cooling of the granular material as it passes through the cooler tubes.

' ite States Theil aten v 1 Nov. 11, 1975 [75] Inventor: Sven Erich Theil, Copenhagen Valby, Denmark [73] Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co., Cresskill, NJ.

[22] Filed: May 1, 1974 [2]] App]. No.: 466,050

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 9, 1973 United Kingdom 22097/73 [52] US. Cl. 432/18; 432/23; 432/80; 432/85 [51] Int. Cl. F26B 9/12 [58] Field of Search 432/18, 23, 80, 85; 34/20 [56-] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 851,765 4/1907 Morgan 432/80 3.809.528 9/1973 Kramm 432/80 TO VALVE 25 3.824069 7/1974 Brachthauser 432/80 Primary E.\'aminerlohn J. Camby Atlorne)", Agent, or FirmPennie & Edmonds [57] ABSTRACT A method is disclosed for intensifying the cooling of hot granular material exiting from a series of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary drum by introducing a cooling liquid into the cooler tubes in a manner such that the liquid contacts the hot granular material as,it passes therethrough and the heat of evaporation of the liquid intensifies the cooling of the material. A planetary cooler system for cooling material exiting from such cooler tubes is also disclosed in which means is provided for introducing cooling liquid preferably in the form of a spray so as to contact the material exiting from the cooler tube and intensify the cooling of the granular material as it passes through the cooler tubes.

33 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 1 of7 3,918,891

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4 SENSOR RELAY BOX L A LO EB R FIG.

6 2 R O S N E S 3 3 L L O E O O C 2 2 a 2 O l T m 2 O 2 H P All |A s Mx I.

L0 B 2 EB i. R k 1 4 3 8 2 L Y 5 mm 2 EB R US. Patent N0v.11, 1975 Sheet3of7 3,918,891

q WATER SOURCE US. atent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet4 of7 3,918,891

Sheet 5 of 7 3,918,891

TO RELAY BOX US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 m mm? 4 RES R FD O I 0 0 Rm7 D I F 5 MX am. II) R 8 6 WATER SOURCE US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 6 of7 3,918,891

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 7 of7 3,918,891

COOLER SYSTEM FOR ROTARY KILN AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to rotary coolers for cooling granular material exiting from a rotating drum, such as a rotary kiln.

2. Description of the Prior Art Coolers of the type contemplated are well known, particularly when used in combination with the rotary kilns for the manufacture of cement clinker, calcined alumina and lime. The planetary cooler may be mounted on a separate drum which acts as a distributor for the material to be cooled in the planetary cooler tubes or as a primary cooler. Alternatively the drum may be formed by the downstream end of the rotary kiln to which the cooler tubes are fixed. In either case the cooling air which has been heated by its passage through the cooler tubes may be used as preheated secondary combustion air in the kiln.

A definite amount of secondary combustion air is required for producing a given amount of clinker or other kiln product and this amount of air is decisive for the amount of cooling air drawn through the cooler tubes. It is unlikely that the amount of air drawn through the cooler tubes is exactly equal to what is required to bring the temperature of the clinker leaving the cooler tubes down to a desired level. Practice and calculations indicate that more air is required for carrying out a satisfactory cooling of the clinker than for nourishing the flame in the rotary kiln, but the two amounts of air must be the same as the two flows of air are series coupled. There is a requirement for means to intensify the cooling action in the cooler tubes without increasing the amount of air drawn through the tubes to an amount above that required for use as secondary combustion air in the kiln. Y

A further problem with conventional planetary coolers is that the temperature of the clinker leaving the cooler should remain constant, regardless of the momentary working conditions of the associated rotary kiln. This is difficult to achieve because sometimes there will be a rush of clinker down through the kiln followed by an interval of time during which smaller amounts of clinker than normal pass through a given cross section of a kiln. Such fluctuations inevitably 2 liquid into said cooler tubes in a manner to contact the hot material as it passes through the cooler tubes so as to intensify the cooling action of the granular material as it passes through'the tubes.

It may only be necessary for the cooling liquid to be applied to the cooler tubes throughout a part of their circular path of movement. The liquid will evaporate at once and the heat of evaporation will cool down the clinkers substantially. The liquid vapor generated will pass along the cooler tubes and into the kiln, or other equipment to which the cooler is, in use, coupled. However, the cooling air will .not have any adverse effects because it only involves the addition of a relatively small amount of liquid. It is estimated that to obtain a temperature of the clinker leaving the cooler tubes of approximately C below that if the cooling were effected by cooling air alone, an addition of about 20 g. of water per kg. of material will be required, Normally a cement clinker temperature of say, 150C at the outlet of the clinker cooler is considered desirable.

The second problem previously referred to, namely that of compensating for fluctuations in the material leaving the kiln, can be effectively overcome by an embodiment of the present invention wherein the supply of cooling liquid to the cooler tubes is automatically controlled in dependence upon the temperature of the clinker or other material being cooled. Although in theory the temperature of the material is preferably sensed at the inlet to the cooler, in practice this may involve difficulties in transmitting the signal from the temperature sensing equipment through a rotary part to a stationary part. It is therefore expedient to measure the temperature of the material leaving the cooler and to use this temperature readout as a feedback signal. For examplea higher temperature will result in a greater quantity of cooling liquid being supplied and vice versa.

The invention also relates to a planetary cooler comprising an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary drum, with the axes of the tubes and the rotary axis of the cooler tubes and drum substantially parallel to the axis of the drum whereby, in use, material being cooled passes from the drum into one end of the cooler tubes and axially along the tubes cause variations in the temperature of the clinker leaving the kiln so that a constant flow of ,air through the cooler tubes cannot prevent corresponding fluctuations in the temperature of the clinker leaving the cooler. I.

have invented an improved cooler system which eliminates these disadvantages while improving the operation of the entire kiln plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method of intensifying the cooling of hot granular material exiting from a rotary drum such as a rotary kiln in which an assembly of cooler tubes are mounted in planetary fashion around the rotary drum with the axes of the tubes and the rotary axis of the drum in substantially parallel relation. The tubes are arranged such that material exiting from the exit portions of the drum enter into one end of each cooler tube and moves axially along the cooler tubes while being cooled by air passing in a direction opposite to the material through the tubes. The method comprises introducing cooling while being cooled by air passing in counter current along the tubes, means being provided for introducing cooling liquid, preferably cooling water, into contact with the material as it passes through the cooler tubes.

If the material is to be sprayed with the cooling liquid, the means for introducing the cooling liquid will comprise one or more spray nozzles which are arranged to produce a spray of cooling liquid in the cooler tubes.

Cooling liquid supply ducts may lead directly into the cooler tubes. Alternatively, one or more nozzles may be arranged for injecting the cooling liquid into the material outlet ends of the cooler tubes.

Each individual cooler tube may be provided with its own liquid supply duct which rotates with that tube, the liquid being supplied either continuously or during a part of each revolution of the cooler. Alternatively, the liquid supply may be provided by a stationary nozzle or nozzles fixed, for example, to a housing into which the cooler tubes discharge the material being cooled in use, or by a nozzle or nozzles with means for being repeatedly moved from a starting point along a path in alignment with the material outlet end of a cooler tube along a part of the circular path of the movement of the cooler tube, and then back again to the starting point. The nozzle or nozzles will then spray liquid into the open material outlet ends of the cooler tubes as they pass the nozzle or nozzles.

The injection of cooling liquid from each nozzle and- /or the movement of each nozzle is preferably synchronized with rotation of the cooler tubes in response to a sensor, which directly or indirectly, senses the angular position of the cooler tubes.

The sensor may incorporate at least one cam follower which follows cam surfaces which rotates with the cooler tubes and correspond one to each cooler tube. Alternately at least one magnetically operated switch may be provided which cooperates with a number of magnets which rotate with the cooler tubes and correspond one to each cooler tube. In still another embodiment, at least one heat sensor may be provided which responds to radiation transmitted from the hot material in a passing cooler tube. The cam surfaces and magnets may be mounted on the cooler tubes or the drum or any other part which rotates with the cooler tubes.

When each individual cooler tube has an individual cooling liquid supply pipe, the individual supply pipes may be connected to a common duct which rotates with the cooler tubes and in which cooling liquid is maintained under pressure. For example, one cooling liquid reservoir may rotate with the cooler tubes and have a shovel bucket which picks up cooling liquid from a static reservoir as the cooler rotates. A pump which rotates with the cooler tubes draws cooling liquid from the rotating reservoir and pumps it into a common duct.

Alternatively, the individual pipes may be supplied with cooling liquid under gravity from a common duct which rotates with the cooler tubes. The common duct may be a radially outwardly open annular trough which surrounds the cooler tubes and which is supplied with cooling liquid from above. The trough is preferably divided into section with each section being connected to one of the individual pipes leading to a cooler tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section of the lower end of a kiln provided with planetary cooler tubes according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are circuit diagrams illustrating alternate liquid supply systems according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view partially in cross-sec tion of a cooler system similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another alternate liquid supply system;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view partially in cross-section illustrating a cooler system having still another alternate liquid supply system;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines l010 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a detail of the portion encircled in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a detail of the portion encircled in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view partially in crosssection of a casing surrounding the free ends of the 4 cooler tubes of a cooler system similar to that illustrated in the previous figures but having alternate liquid supply system;

FIG. 15 is a view partially in cross-section taken along lines l5l5 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view partially in cross-section similar to that illustrated in FIG. 15 but showing an alternate embodiment of the liquid cooling system wherein water is simultaneously introduced into two cooler tubes; and

FIG. 17 is a view partially in cross-section similar to that illustrated in FIG. 16 but showing another embodiment of the liquid cooling system in which water is simultaneously introduced into three cooler tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a lower end of a rotary kiln 9 with a refractory lining and outlet openings 10 communicating through chutes 11 with twelve cooler tubes 12 arranged in planetary fashion around the end of the kiln and around a stationary burner tunnel 13 giving unobstructed access to a kiln end plate 14. Through a central opening in the plate 14 a burner pipe 14a extends into the lower end of the kiln 9.

The cement clinker or other material travels down the kiln 9 and into the cooler tubes 12 through the corresponding chutes 11 as the cooler tubes pass beneath the kiln. The material then travels along each cooler tube and leaves the tube through an outlet at the material outlet (and air inlet end) 15 of the tube. The ends 15 of the tubes are surrounded by a stationary housing 16, the bottom of which is formed as a hopper 17 for collecting the material. The cooled material is finally discharged through a bottom opening 18 in the hopper. Simultaneously cooling air is drawn into the cooler tubes through the ends 15, through the chutes 11 into the kiln 9 where it is used as secondary ctiinbustion air for the flame formed at the end of the burner pipe 14a.

The kiln and the planetary cooler thus described are of conventional construction and the cooler may have built-in chain curtains and/or lifters such as troughshaped conveyor flights for improving the heat exchange between the material and the cooling air and for controlling the conveyance of the material through the cooler tubes.

In accordance with the inventive feature, the cooler is fitted with three stationary water supply pipes 19 which are suitably supported on the housing 16 on a circular arc in alignment with the cylindrical locus traced out by the axes of the tubes 12 as the cooler rotates. The outlet ends 20 of the pipes 19 extend through the housing 16 and terminate the spray heads which are arranged to direct a spray of liquid into the open ends of the cooler tubes 12. Each water pipe 19 is provided with a valve 21 which is automatically opened when the spray head 20 of that pipe 19 is in alignment with a cooler tube 12. This synchronization is produced by a cam ring 22, one for each pipe 19, fastened to an extension of the kiln shell and each having twelve cam recesses 23, one in radial alignment with each cooler tube 12, and a valve 21 which opens when a cam follower 24 associated with that valve rides into each recess 23 under spring action.

A single water supply pipe 19 with one valve and one cam follower would suffice but the triple arrangement gives a better water distribution. The water used may be supplied from a main water supply under the available pressure, or under a higher pressure produced by being mixed with compressed air in the spray head 20.

Although water is preferred as the cooling liquid, be-

cause it is generally easily accessible and has a suitably high specific heat of evaporation, other liquids having suitable characteristics may be used instead of water, such as oil. Sensor 26 and photocell 33 will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

Various control systems for thewater supply are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. As shown in FIG. 4,'the water supply to the three pipes 19 is controlled by means of a main adjustable valve which is controlled in accordance with the clinker temperature as sensed by a sensor 26 at a suitable location. In FIG. 1 the sensor 26 is shown as a thermocouple mounted in the stream of clinker falling from the free ends of the cooler tubes. Its readings are used automatically to control the momentary position of the main valve'25 through a relay box 27 and a valve motor 28.

FIG. 5 shows a modification wherein theamount of water supplied through each pipe 19 is controlled by means of electromagnetically actuated valves 29, 30.

and 31 receiving impulses from the thermocouple 26 via a relay box 32. The arrangement is such that when tary water cooling is required all three valves 29, 30

and 31 are closed. If water cooling to a limited extent is required the valve 30 is opened. When still more sup.-

plementary cooling is required the valve 29 will be opened as well and, when maximum supplementary cooling is required the valve 31 will be opened in additron.

In the system of FIG. 6, cam control of the valves 21 is dispensed with completely and the valves 21a which take their place are controlled electromagnetically on the basis of signals received .from a photocell 33 through a relay box 34. The main valve 25 is again controlled from the thermocouple 26 via the box 27 and motor 28. As appears from FIGS. land 3 the photocell 33 is mounted in the front wall of easing 16at the lower point of intersection between ayertical plane through the axis of the kiln and the center pipe 19, and the periphery of the circle on which the three pipes are located. The axis of the photocell is perpendicular to the plane of that circle. A beam of light radiated by the glowing clinker in the cooler tube will activate the photocell whenever the open outlet end ofa rotating cooler tube passes by. With the position shown for the photocell this will happen whenever the three pipes 19 are each in alignment with a cooler tube 12.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modification which differsfrom the FIG. 1 example essentially only in the water supply system. In this case the cooling water is obtained from a reservoir 35 which is filled with water at a constant level as determined by a sensor 36 and valve 37 in a supply pipe 38. As the cooler makes each revolution, a shovel bucket 38 which rotates with the cooler, dipes into the reservoir and carries up with it an amount of water which, during continued rotation of the cooler, flows along a spiral passage extending over at least 1% turns around the axis of the cooler and leads into a ringshaped water reservoir 40. A centrifugal pump 41- driven by a motor 42 sucks water from the reservoir through a pipe 40a and forces it through another pipe 43 into a ring pipe 43a from which branch pipes 44 leadinto the downstream end of each cooler tube 12. In this speed of the motor 42. The motor 42 is infinitely variable and its pumping speed is controlled in dependence upon the clinker temperature which is measured by a sensor v26 emitting the control signals. Electric power is suppliedto the motor 42 through slip rings 42a and complementary brushes 42b.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show-a rotary kiln 9 provided with a numberof planetary cooler tubes 13 opening into a clinker chute 16, similarly to the FIG. 1 example. In

this case, there is a cooling water trough or gutter 45 supported by a plurality of feet 46 and rotating with the coolerabout the kiln axis. A supply pipe 47 hinged at a flexible joint 48 is connected via the joint to a water supply pipe 49 provided with a regulable valve 49a which may be operated either by hand or by means of a sensor 26 with control equipment. The supply pipe 47 projects into the cooling water trough 45 and the necessary amount of water, dependent upon the clinker temperature in the clinker outlet 16 at any given time, is thus supplied .to the cooling water trough 45.

From the trough 45 a pipe 50 passes into each cooler tube 12, into a conical protective baffle 51 (see FIG. l3),-the apex of which is facing the stream of cooling air and which distributes the water supplied through parts 49, 48, 47, 45 and 50 to the interior of the cooler tube 12.

As will be seen from FIG. 10, the flexible mounted supply pipe 47 is arranged with respect to the upwardly moving side of the kiln axis so that the water supplied tothe trough 45 will flow in the trough in a direction opposite to that of an arrow indicating the direction of rotation of the kiln.

Each pipe 50 through which water is fed from the trough 45 into the corresponding cooler tube 12 is inclined at an angle a to the plane determined by the axis of the kiln and that of the relevant cooler tube.

From FIG. 12 it can be seen that between each pipe 50 and the trough 45 there is inserted a funnel 52 to which the pipe is attached by means of a clamping device 53. By means of partitions 54, the cooling water trough 45 is divided into a number of sections corresponding to the number of cooler tubes 12, the partitions ensuring the water that the water fed at any given moment from the pipe 47 is passed to only one of the example the water is supplied continuously to the cooler tubes 12, the rate of supply depending upon the cooler tubes 12 and that each of the tubes is fed with the same amount of water for each revolution of the kiln. The cooling water trough 45 has as indicated in FIG. 11 inturned edge lips serving to catch any surplus amount of cooling water not passed into the cooler tube 12 while the section in question is moving down the side of the kiln. I

As will be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, each partition 54 constitutes an integral part of the corresponding funnel 52. A protective sleeve 55 surrounding the pipe 50 and made of rubber or of other resilient material is mounted on and projects into the cooler tube 12 and terminates in the protective baffle 51, the orientation and conical design of which ensure that the cooling water is supplied to the cooler tube 12 concurrently with the cooling air. These sleeves in conjunction with the flexible joint connection 48 between the pipes 49 and 47, ensures the flexibility required along the supply system for the cooling water from the pipe 49 to the interior of the cooler tubes 12 to meet expansion and contractions as well as other stresses to which the kiln and cooler are subjected during operation.

FIGS. 14 and 15 indicate a device mounted on the front of the casing 16 and having movable nozzles 56,

through which cooling water can be injected through a slit 57 provided in the wall of the casing and into the cooler tubes 12 as the tubes pass by. Each nozzle 56 is fastened to a link of an endless chain 58 laid around two sprocket wheels 59, one of which is driven by a motor 60 rotating at a speed varying proportionally to the speed of the kiln and consequently of the cooler. The motor 60 is coupled to a gear 61 through which it also drives a so-called Selsyn transmitter, or step generator, 62 which is electrically connected with a corresponding Selsyn receiver, or step motor, 63. The step motor 63 drives a slide valve 64 supplying water to the proper nozzle 56 at the proper time, that is, when a nozzle 56 is moved along the slit 57, at the same time ensuring that the flexible supply hoses 65 of the nozzles follow the movement of these without being twisted. The kiln shell 9 is provided with a number of uniformly distributed permanent magnets 66 corresponding to the number of cooler tubes. An indicator 67 is activated by the magnetic field whenever a magnet 66 is passing it so that an electric impulse is emitted, and this impulse is transmitted via a relay box 68 to a magnet valve 69 which is consequently opened so that water is fed to the slide valve 64. The valve directs the water further to that of the nozzles 56 which at the given moment moves along the slit 57.

Another indicator 70 will also be activated by the passage of the magnets 66. Whenever this occurs the analogous effect is that the water supply to the nozzle 56 involved is cut off. This indicator is therefore arranged at such location that the cut off takes place when the nozzle 56 has reached the lower end of the slit 57.

FIG. 16 shows another form of water cooling system with movable nozzles provided on the casing 16 at the same location in relation to the cooler tubes 12 as described in connection with FIGS. 14 and 15. This system enables two consecutive cooler tubes 12 to simultaneously receive water injection and it consists of a set of two hydraulic cylinders 71 each with a piston 72 and piston rod 73 on which the water injection nozzles 56 are mounted so as to be moved with the rod upwards and downwards along corresponding slits 57 at a speed causing them to follow the movement of a cooler tube 12.

In this case there is also provided on the kiln shell 9 a number of permanent magnets 66; however, the magnets are here placed in front of every second cooler tube 12 only. When activated by a magnet 66, the indicator causes the valve 69 to open through the intermediary of a relay box 68, by which water is simultaneously fed to both of the nozzles. The relay box 68 si multaneously emits an impulse to an oil change-over valve 74 which causes oil by means of a pump 76 to be forced from a reservoir 75 via the change-over valve 74 into the upper end of the cylinders 71 so that the piston rods 73 move the nozzles 56 downwards, following each the movement of its corresponding separate cooler tube 12.

The indicator 70 ensures that the water supply to the nozzles 56 is cut off when these are in their lower position. At the same time the indicator 70 will cause reversion of the oil change-over valve 74 so that the nozzles are moved to their top position, ready to inject water into another cooler tube passing it.

If the kiln has an odd number of cooler tubes 12, use is made of equipment consisting of only one set of parts 56, 71, 72, 73 since in that case water will only be in- 8 jected into the cooler tubes at every second revolution of the kiln 9. lfthere is an even number of cooler tubes, it is of advantage to use the double set of equipment shown in FIG. 16.

Downstream of the valve 69 the water supply pipe divides into two branches, each ending in its separate socket 77, from which emanates the flexible hose that leads the cooling water to the appertaining nozzle 56.

FIG. 17 shows a water injection system having three nozzles 56 which inject water simultaneously into three cooler tubes 12 through a slit 57 of a circular curvature determined by the radial distance between the kiln axis and the cooler tube axis. The kiln shell 9 is here provided with a permanent magnet 66 for each cooler tube. The nozzles 56 are mounted on a guide rail 77 of substantially the curvature just referred to and slidably supported on guide member (not shown). To this guide rail 77 is attached a curved rack 78 in mesh with a gear wheel 79 driven by a motor 80 which rotates synchronously with the rotation of the kiln. If the system is in its starting position as indicated in FIG. 17, an indicator 81 will be activated by the magnet 66 and will, via a relay box 68, cause the valve 69 to open, whereby the valve admits water to all three nozzles 56. In addition, the relay box 68 transmits an impulse for starting the motor 80 which will then advance the nozzles 56 so that they actually inject water into the central part of the respective cooler tubes 12. When the indicator 81 is activated by a following magnet 66, this will cause the relay box 68 to close the valve 69 with consequent stoppage of the water supply to the nozzles and further to emit an impulse for quick reversing of the motor 80 so that the nozzles are returned to their starting position quickly. The water supply is then opened again and a new cycle begins.

The motor 80 with gear wheel 79 and rack 78 may be replaced by a pneumatic pressure cylinder (not shown) suspended movably for moving the guide rail 77 controlled from the relay box 68.

It will be seen that in the arrangements shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 the permanent magnets 66 may be replaced by other impulse emanating members such as cams for example. With such an arrangement the cooperating members 67, and 81 are then to be adapted accordingly such as in the form of rockers guiding electrical contacts.

Likewise throughout the arrangement shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 the valve 69 may be supplemented by another valve 82 as shown in FIG. 17 only. This valve is series-coupled with valve 69 and is regulable either by hand, as assumed in FIG. 17, or automatically by means equivalent to those described in connection with the valves 25 and 49a shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, respectively.

I claim:

1. A method of cooling granular material exiting from a series of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary drum such as a rotary kiln mounted for rotation about a rotational axis comprising directing a cooling liquid to at least one liquid carrying conduit rotating with the drum and positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube, selectively discharging said cooling liquid from said conduit as reguired for cooling said granular material such that cooling liquid directed from said conduit to said cooler tube enters the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube and moves generally axially along the cooler tube so as to contact the hot granular material to provide cooling thereof as the material passes therethrough while simultaneously providing cooling of said granular material with air passing through said cooler tube in a direction opposite to the direction of material movement throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tube.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising introducing water into each of said cooler tubes to cool said granular material.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising introducing said cooling liquid into said cooler tubes in the form of a spray.

4. The method according to claim 2 further comprising supplying said cooling liquid to said cooler tubes under the influence of gravity.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising introducing said cooling liquid into said cooler tubes adjacent to the material outlet ends of said cooler tubes.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising injecting said cooling liquid into the material outlet end of each cooler tube.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material in said cooler tubes to be cooled and introducing cooling liquid by automatically controlling said liquid supplied in dependence upon the sensed temperature of said material.

8. A method according to claim 2 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material in said cooler tubes to be cooled and introducing cooling water by automatically controlling said water supplied in dependence upon the sensed temperature of said material.

9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material after exiting from the cooler tubes.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material after exiting from the cooler tubes.

11. The method of cooling granular material exiting from a series of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary kiln according to claim 2 further comprising introducing cooling water into a conduit surrounding the drum, permitting the cooling water to flow under the influence of gravity from said conduit through liquid carrying conduits extending from positions spaced along the periphery of the first mentioned conduit to each cooler tube and mounted for rotation with the drum and cooler tubes such that the water flowing to each cooler tube is dependent upon the water directed to said first mentioned conduit and the radial position of the cooler tubes as they rotate through their circular path of movement. 5

12. A method of intensifying the cooling action of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary kiln mounted for rotation about a rotational axis,

said tubes being arranged to receive hot granular material from the outlet portion of said kiln for cooling therein comprising introducing cooling liquid into an endless common conduit surrounding the kiln and mounted for rotation with the kiln, permitting the cooling liquid to flow under the influence of gravity from said first endless conduit to a series of liquid carrying conduits arranged such that one end portion of each of the last mentioned conduits faces the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube, the other end commu-.

nicating with said endless conduit at spaced positions along the periphery thereof, selectively introducing cooling liquid into said endless common conduit as required for cooling said granular material, permitting the cooling liquid to flow under the influence of gravity from said endless common conduit to the series of liquid carrying conduits, thereby providing cooling of said granular material passing through each cooler tube while simultaneously cooling said material with air passing through the cooler tube in a direction opposite to the direction of material movement throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tube.

13. A planetary cooler system for cooling hot material exiting from a rotary drum such as a rotary kiln which comprises an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around the rotary drum with the axes of the tubes and the rotary axis of the drum in substantially parallel relation and arranged such that material treated in the drum passes from the exit portions of the drum into one end of each cooler tube and moves axially along the cooler tubes while being cooled by air passing in a direction opposite to the material through the tubes, at least one conduit capable of carrying a cooling liquid and mounted for rotation with the drum, said conduit being positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube for simultaneous movement therewith, means for selectively directing a cooling liquid to said conduit and from said conduit into the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tube so as to contact the hot granular material to provide cooling thereof simultaneously with the cooling provided by air passing therethrough.

14. The planetary cooler system according to claim 13 further comprising at least one cooling liquid conduit associated with each cooler tube, each conduit being positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material exit end portion of the associated cooler tube.

15. The planetary cooler system according to claim 14 wherein said means for introducing said cooling liquid comprises at least one spray nozzle arranged to produce a spray of cooling liquid in at least one cooler tube.

16. The planetary cooler system according to claim 14 wherein said means for introducing said cooling liquid comprises at least one nozzle for injecting the cooling liquid into the mateial outlet ends of the cooler tubes.

17. The planetary cooler system according to claim 15 wherein said means for introducing said cooling liquid comprises at least one nozzle for injecting the cooling liquid into the material outlet ends of the cooler tubes.

18. The planetary cooler system according to claim 6 further comprising a stationary housing adapted to receive material discharged from said cooler tubes, each nozzle being fixed to said housing.

19. The planetary cooler system according to claim 17 further comprising a stationary housing adapted to receive material discharged from said cooler tubes, each nozzle being fixed to said housing.

' 20. The planetary cooler system according to claim 13 wherein said cooling liquid conduit comprises an individual liquid supply pipe which extends into each cooler tube to direct cooling liquid into the material 1 ll outlet end portion of the cooler tube.

21. The planetary cooler system according to claim 14 wherein said cooling liquid conduit comprises an individual liquid supply pipe which extends into each cooler tube to direct cooling liquid into the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube.

22. The planetary cooler system according to claim wherein said individual supply pipes are connected at one end to a common duct which rotates with said cooler tubes, the other end extending into the material outlet end of each cooler tube, and said cooling liquid is maintained under pressure within said duct.

23. The planetary cooler system according to claim 21 wherein said individual supply pipes are connected at one end to a common duct which rotates with said cooler tubes, the other end extending into the material outlet end of each cooler tube, and said cooling liquid is maintained under pressure within said duct.

24. The planetary cooler system according to claim 22 further comprising at least one cooling liquid reservoir which rotates with said cooler tubes, said reservoir including a shovel bucket positioned and configured to lift cooling liquid from a stationary reservoir as said cooler system rotates, and a pump mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said pump being connected to draw cooling liquid from said rotating reservoir and pump it into said common duct to thereby maintain the pressure within said duct and to supply the individual liquid supply pipes with liquid for cooling said material exiting from said cooler tubes.

25. The planetary cooler system according to claim 23 further comprising at least one cooling liquid reservoir which rotates with said cooler tubes, said reservoir including a shovel bucket positioned and configured to lift cooling liquid from a stationary reservoir as said cooler system rotates, and a pump mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said pump being connected to draw cooling liquid from said rotating reservoir and pump it into said common duct to thereby maintain the pressure within said duct and to supply the individual liquid supply pipes with liquid for cooling said material exiting from said cooler tubes.

26. The planetary cooler system according to claim 20 further comprising a common cooling liquid carrying duct surrounding the kiln and mounted to rotate therewith and said individual supply pipes are supplied with cooling liquid under the influence of gravity from said common duct.

27. The planetary cooler system according to claim 21 further comprising a common cooling liquid carrying duct surrounding the kiln and mounted to rotate therewith and said individual supply pipes are supplied with cooling liquid under the influence of gravity from said common duct.

28. The planetary cooler system according to claim 26 wherein said common duct comprises a radially outwardly open annular trough which surrounds said cooler tubes and which is supplied with cooling liquid from above, said trough being divided into a plurality of sections, each section being connected to one of the individual pipes leading to said cooler tubes.

29. The planetary cooler system according to claim 27 wherein said common duct comprises a radially outwardly open annular trough which surrounds said cooler tubes and which is supplied with cooling liquid from above, said trough being divided into a plurality of sections, each section being connected to one of the individual pipes leading to said cooler tubes.

30. A kiln plant which includes a rotary kiln having a planetary cooler system for cooling hot treatment gran ular material exiting from the outlet portions of said kiln comprising an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion about the rotary kiln with the axis of the cooler tubes in substantially parallel relation with the rotary axis or" the kiln, the outlet end of the rotary kiln being coupled to the material inlet ends of each cooler tube such that hot material enters said cooler tubes and moves therealong to a material outlet end configured and adapted to receive cooling air therein in counter current to the flow of material therethrough, an endless common conduit surrounding the kiln and mounted for rotation simultaneously therewith, a series of cooling water pipes extending from said common conduit at an angle relative to the plane passing through the axis of the kiln and the axis of the associated cooler tube, each water pipe extending into its associated cooler tube adjacent the material outlet portion thereof and having connected at its end portion closest to the cooler tube a means for distributing cooling water substantially uniformly into said cooler tube, means for selectively directing cooling water to said common conduit such that water collecting in said common conduit flows under the influence of gravity to said cooling water pipes into the inlet end portion of each cooler tube in a direction counter current to the material flowing through the cooler tube, said angle of each water pipe permitting amounts of water to flow to said cooler tubes required to cool the hot granular material simultaneously with air passing therethrough sufficiently to reduce its temperature to acceptable levels.

31. The kiln plant according to claim 30 wherein the material outlet end of the rotary kiln forms the drum of the planetary cooler to which the planetary cooler tubes are attached.

32. The rotary kiln plant according to claim 31 wherein said means connected to each cooling water pipe for distributing water into each cooler tube comprises a conical protective baffle connected to each cooling water pipe at the end portion extending into its associated cooler tube in a manner such that water therethrough flows to the inner portion of said baffle while the apex of said baffle is positioned to face the stream of cooling air such that the uniform distribution of said cooling air about the conical portion of said baffle combines with the water flowing through the inner portion thereof and causes the water to be distributed uniformly to the cooler tube throughout at least a portion of its circular path of movement to intensify the cooling of the hot granular material passing therethrough.

33. A planetary cooler system for cooling hot material exiting from a rotary kiln which comprises an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashiom around the rotary drum with the axes of the tubes and the rotary axis of the drum in substantially parallel relation and arranged such that material treated in the drum passes from the exit portions of the drum into one end of each cooler tube and moves axially along the cooler tubes while being cooled by air passing in a direction opposite to the material through the tubes, a common duct mounted for rotation with the kiln, at least one liquid supply pipe associated with each cooler tube, each pipe being mounted for rotation with the kiln and capable of carrying a cooling liquid, each pipe being positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube as it rotates simultaneously therewith and its opposite end portion communicating with said common duct, at least one cooling liquid reservoir mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said reservoir including a shovel bucket positioned and configured to lift cooling liquid from a stationary reservoir as said cooling system rotates, a centrifugal pump mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said pump being connected to draw cooling liquid from said rotating reservoir and pump it into said common duct such that the liquid flows from said common duct to said liquid supply pipes facing the material outlet end portions of the cooler tubes, a vari- UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,918,891 DATED November 11, 1975 INVENT0R(5) I SVEN ERICH THEIL it iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown betow:

At Column 1, Line 35, after "There is" insert therefore At Column 4 Line 52, "the" second occurrence, should read At Column 6, Lines 22 and 23, change the parenthetical remark to read (see also Fig. 13)

At Column 8, Line 64 line 9 of claim 1, "required" should read required At Column 10, Line 57 line 1 of claim 18, "6" should read At Column 12, Line 2, line 2 of claim 30, "treatment" should read treated- En'gncd and Sealed this t [S Slxh D of Aprzl I976 Arrest.

ITIIiTHICZiADSON C. MARSHALL DANN estmg jjlcer Commissioner ufPatenrs and Trademarks 

1. A method of cooling granular material exiting from a series of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary drum such as a rotary kiln mounted for rotation about a rotational axis comprising directing a cooling liquid to at least one liquid carrying conduit rotating with the drum and positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube, selectively discharging said cooling liquid from said conduit as reguired for cooling said granular material such that cooling liquid directed from said conduit to said cooler tube enters the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube and moves generally axially along the cooler tube so as to contact the hot granular material to provide cooling thereof as the material passes therethrough while simultaneously providing cooling of said granular material with air passing through said cooler tube in a direction opposite to the direction of material movement throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tube.
 2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising introducing water into each of said cooler tubes to cool said granular material.
 3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising introducing said cooling liquid into said cooler tubes in the form of a spray.
 4. The method according to claim 2 further comprising supplying said cooling liquid to said cooler tubes under the influence of gravity.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising introducing said cooling liquid into said cooler tubes adjacent to the material outlet ends of said cooler tubes.
 6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising injecting said cooling liquid into the material outlet end of each cooler tube.
 7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material in said cooler tubes to be cooled and introducing cooling liquid by automatically controlling said liquid supplied in dependence upon the sensed temperature of said material.
 8. A method according to claim 2 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material in said cooler tubes to be cooled and introducing cooling water by automatically controlling said water supplied in dependence upon the sensed temperature of said material.
 9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material after exiting from the cooler tubes.
 10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising sensing the temperature of the granular material after exiting from the cooler tubes.
 11. The method of cooling granular material exiting from a series of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary kiln according to claim 2 further comprising introducing cooling water into a conduit surrounding the drum, permitting the cooling water to flow under the influence of gravity from said conduit through liquid carrying conduits extending from positions spaced along the periphery of the first mentioned conduit to each cooler tube and mounted for rotation with the drum and cooler tubes such that the water flowing to each cooler tube is dependent upon the water directed to said first mentioned conduit and the radial position of the cooler tubes as they rotate through their circular path of movement.
 12. A method of intensifying the cooling action of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around a rotary kiln mounted for rotation about a rotational axis, said tubes being arranged to receive hot granular maTerial from the outlet portion of said kiln for cooling therein comprising introducing cooling liquid into an endless common conduit surrounding the kiln and mounted for rotation with the kiln, permitting the cooling liquid to flow under the influence of gravity from said first endless conduit to a series of liquid carrying conduits arranged such that one end portion of each of the last mentioned conduits faces the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube, the other end communicating with said endless conduit at spaced positions along the periphery thereof, selectively introducing cooling liquid into said endless common conduit as required for cooling said granular material, permitting the cooling liquid to flow under the influence of gravity from said endless common conduit to the series of liquid carrying conduits, thereby providing cooling of said granular material passing through each cooler tube while simultaneously cooling said material with air passing through the cooler tube in a direction opposite to the direction of material movement throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tube.
 13. A planetary cooler system for cooling hot material exiting from a rotary drum such as a rotary kiln which comprises an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around the rotary drum with the axes of the tubes and the rotary axis of the drum in substantially parallel relation and arranged such that material treated in the drum passes from the exit portions of the drum into one end of each cooler tube and moves axially along the cooler tubes while being cooled by air passing in a direction opposite to the material through the tubes, at least one conduit capable of carrying a cooling liquid and mounted for rotation with the drum, said conduit being positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube for simultaneous movement therewith, means for selectively directing a cooling liquid to said conduit and from said conduit into the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tube so as to contact the granular material to provide cooling thereof simultaneously with the cooling provided by air passing therethrough.
 14. The planetary cooler system according to claim 13 further comprising at least one cooling liquid conduit associated with each cooler tube, each conduit being positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material exit end portion of the associated cooler tube.
 15. The planetary cooler system according to claim 14 wherein said means for introducing said cooling liquid comprises at least one spray nozzle arranged to produce a spray of cooling liquid in at least one cooler tube.
 16. The planetary cooler system according to claim 14 wherein said means for introducing said cooling liquid comprises at least one nozzle for injecting the cooling liquid into the mateial outlet ends of the cooler tubes.
 17. The planetary cooler system according to claim 15 wherein said means for introducing said cooling liquid comprises at least one nozzle for injecting the cooling liquid into the material outlet ends of the cooler tubes.
 18. The planetary cooler system according to claim 6 further comprising a stationary housing adapted to receive material discharged from said cooler tubes, each nozzle being fixed to said housing.
 19. The planetary cooler system according to claim 17 further comprising a stationary housing adapted to receive material discharged from said cooler tubes, each nozzle being fixed to said housing.
 20. The planetary cooler system according to claim 13 wherein said cooling liquid conduit comprises an individual liquid supply pipe which extends into each cooler tube to direct cooling liquid into the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube.
 21. The planetary cooler system according to claim 14 wherein said cooling liquid conduit comprises an indivIdual liquid supply pipe which extends into each cooler tube to direct cooling liquid into the material outlet end portion of the cooler tube.
 22. The planetary cooler system according to claim 20 wherein said individual supply pipes are connected at one end to a common duct which rotates with said cooler tubes, the other end extending into the material outlet end of each cooler tube, and said cooling liquid is maintained under pressure within said duct.
 23. The planetary cooler system according to claim 21 wherein said individual supply pipes are connected at one end to a common duct which rotates with said cooler tubes, the other end extending into the material outlet end of each cooler tube, and said cooling liquid is maintained under pressure within said duct.
 24. The planetary cooler system according to claim 22 further comprising at least one cooling liquid reservoir which rotates with said cooler tubes, said reservoir including a shovel bucket positioned and configured to lift cooling liquid from a stationary reservoir as said cooler system rotates, and a pump mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said pump being connected to draw cooling liquid from said rotating reservoir and pump it into said common duct to thereby maintain the pressure within said duct and to supply the individual liquid supply pipes with liquid for cooling said material exiting from said cooler tubes.
 25. The planetary cooler system according to claim 23 further comprising at least one cooling liquid reservoir which rotates with said cooler tubes, said reservoir including a shovel bucket positioned and configured to lift cooling liquid from a stationary reservoir as said cooler system rotates, and a pump mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said pump being connected to draw cooling liquid from said rotating reservoir and pump it into said common duct to thereby maintain the pressure within said duct and to supply the individual liquid supply pipes with liquid for cooling said material exiting from said cooler tubes.
 26. The planetary cooler system according to claim 20 further comprising a common cooling liquid carrying duct surrounding the kiln and mounted to rotate therewith and said individual supply pipes are supplied with cooling liquid under the influence of gravity from said common duct.
 27. The planetary cooler system according to claim 21 further comprising a common cooling liquid carrying duct surrounding the kiln and mounted to rotate therewith and said individual supply pipes are supplied with cooling liquid under the influence of gravity from said common duct.
 28. The planetary cooler system according to claim 26 wherein said common duct comprises a radially outwardly open annular trough which surrounds said cooler tubes and which is supplied with cooling liquid from above, said trough being divided into a plurality of sections, each section being connected to one of the individual pipes leading to said cooler tubes.
 29. The planetary cooler system according to claim 27 wherein said common duct comprises a radially outwardly open annular trough which surrounds said cooler tubes and which is supplied with cooling liquid from above, said trough being divided into a plurality of sections, each section being connected to one of the individual pipes leading to said cooler tubes.
 30. A kiln plant which includes a rotary kiln having a planetary cooler system for cooling hot treatment granular material exiting from the outlet portions of said kiln comprising an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion about the rotary kiln with the axis of the cooler tubes in substantially parallel relation with the rotary axis of the kiln, the outlet end of the rotary kiln being coupled to the material inlet ends of each cooler tube such that hot material enters said cooler tubes and moves therealong to a material outlet end configured and adapted to receive cooling air therein in counter current to the flow of material therethrough, an endless cOmmon conduit surrounding the kiln and mounted for rotation simultaneously therewith, a series of cooling water pipes extending from said common conduit at an angle relative to the plane passing through the axis of the kiln and the axis of the associated cooler tube, each water pipe extending into its associated cooler tube adjacent the material outlet portion thereof and having connected at its end portion closest to the cooler tube a means for distributing cooling water substantially uniformly into said cooler tube, means for selectively directing cooling water to said common conduit such that water collecting in said common conduit flows under the influence of gravity to said cooling water pipes into the inlet end portion of each cooler tube in a direction counter current to the material flowing through the cooler tube, said angle of each water pipe permitting amounts of water to flow to said cooler tubes required to cool the hot granular material simultaneously with air passing therethrough sufficiently to reduce its temperature to acceptable levels.
 31. The kiln plant according to claim 30 wherein the material outlet end of the rotary kiln forms the drum of the planetary cooler to which the planetary cooler tubes are attached.
 32. The rotary kiln plant according to claim 31 wherein said means connected to each cooling water pipe for distributing water into each cooler tube comprises a conical protective baffle connected to each cooling water pipe at the end portion extending into its associated cooler tube in a manner such that water therethrough flows to the inner portion of said baffle while the apex of said baffle is positioned to face the stream of cooling air such that the uniform distribution of said cooling air about the conical portion of said baffle combines with the water flowing through the inner portion thereof and causes the water to be distributed uniformly to the cooler tube throughout at least a portion of its circular path of movement to intensify the cooling of the hot granular material passing therethrough.
 33. A planetary cooler system for cooling hot material exiting from a rotary kiln which comprises an assembly of cooler tubes mounted in planetary fashion around the rotary drum with the axes of the tubes and the rotary axis of the drum in substantially parallel relation and arranged such that material treated in the drum passes from the exit portions of the drum into one end of each cooler tube and moves axially along the cooler tubes while being cooled by air passing in a direction opposite to the material through the tubes, a common duct mounted for rotation with the kiln, at least one liquid supply pipe associated with each cooler tube, each pipe being mounted for rotation with the kiln and capable of carrying a cooling liquid, each pipe being positioned with its liquid exit end portion facing the material outlet end of its associated cooler tube as it rotates simultaneously therewith and its opposite end portion communicating with said common duct, at least one cooling liquid reservoir mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said reservoir including a shovel bucket positioned and configured to lift cooling liquid from a stationary reservoir as said cooling system rotates, a centrifugal pump mounted for rotation with said cooler tubes, said pump being connected to draw cooling liquid from said rotating reservoir and pump it into said common duct such that the liquid flows from said common duct to said liquid supply pipes facing the material outlet end portions of the cooler tubes, a variable electrically powered motor connected such that its pumping speed is controlled in dependence upon the temperature of the granular material, sensing means adapted to measure the temperature of the granular material and to emit a signal which controls said pump in proportion thereto to provide said cooling liquid to said cooler tubes throughout at least a portion of the circular path of movement of said cooler tubes as necessary to cool the granular maTerial to predetermined acceptable levels. 